By S. Mayren
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand at the Covey Center for the Performing Arts in Provo, Utah was the perfect start to this holiday season. The band’s unique blend of bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll was applied masterfully to holiday favorites, such as “Away in a Manger” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” as well as original works by the band.
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand was first formed in 2009 with Shupe’s idea that the band members would rotate through so as to keep the band together longer. Over the years, there have been several different players with the band. This Christmas Tour was privileged to enjoy the musical stylings of Roger Archibald (guitar and vocals), Craig Miner (banjo and vocals), Josh Larsen (bass and vocals), Brandon Chappel (drums and vocals), and, of course, the bandleader himself, Ryan Shupe (violin and vocals).
Throughout the concert, the band members showcase their varying talents by switching instruments several times as well as harmonizing beautifully on all of the songs. Some of the highlighted instruments were the violin, mandolin, upright bass, electric bass, kazoos, and bouzouki (although Shupe joked that after an airport incident they need to start calling it the 8-string mandolin). One of the most exciting numbers of the evening was when all five band members gathered around the upright bass to play “Linus and Lucy.” Another amazing moment was when the band all put down their instruments and sang “In Bethlehem,” an original a cappella number written by Ryan Shupe in a Southern Gospel style.
The evening was a wonderful journey through Christmas classics, and “Christmasified” (a word coined by the band for their Christmas concerts) favorites. They “Christmasified” their popular tune “Corndog” into the Christmas song “Eggnog.” Another popular song to which they took the “Christmasify” approach was “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” that was changed to “The Grinch Went Down to Whoville.” The band members even took the opportunity to “Christmasify” their instruments by adding strings of lights; the whole effect was very festive. One of the last parts of the journey was a little trip on the Polar Express. This was achieved by the band creating a Doppler effect sound on their instruments as they passed through different parts of the world, including a little bit of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from Walt Disney’s Frozen. The evening’s journey concluded by bringing out some of the children of the band members to join in what Ryan Shupe called “A ‘Silent Night’ RubberBand Jam with the Audience.”
If you are looking to kick-start your holiday season, or your Christmas Spirit, look no further than Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Christmas Tour 2019, it will definitely put a jingle in your step and some eggnog in your heart.
The Covey Center for the Arts presents Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Christmas Tour 2019
Upcoming dates: Wednesday, December 4, St. George, UT, Thursday, December 5, Richfield, UT, Monday, December 9, Salt Lake City, UT, Monday, December 16, Ogden, UT
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Facebook Page
Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand Facebook Event Page
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